News Release

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Los Angeles: Detectives from the Topanga Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail (NED) served a search warrant at a medical marijuana dispensary and a residence in the west San Fernando Valley, resulting in two arrests and a cache of narcotics, money, guns, and other evidence of illegal drug sales.

On Tuesday, October 30, 2012, around 2:00 p.m., Topanga Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail detectives converged on a commercial marijuana dispensary in the 19900 block of Ventura Boulevard. At approximately 3:00 p.m., they served a search warrant at the dispensary owner’s house in the 14700 block of Valleyheart Drive.

The search warrants were obtained after an investigation into the illegal sales of marijuana from the dispensary on Ventura Boulevard. Sherman Oaks resident, 54-year-old Gennady Tikhonov, and North Hollywood resident, 39-year-old Vyacheslav Bugakov, were arrested for Possession for Sales of Marijuana and booked at Valley Jail Section. They are being held on $20,000 bail.

Investigators recovered cash from the dispensary, approximately one pound of hashish with an estimated street value of $4,500 and around 17 pounds of dried marijuana with an estimated street value of $51,000. One hand gun was recovered from the dispensary and two more handguns from the owner’s residence. Additionally, sophisticated indoor hydroponic marijuana grows, consisting of approximately 200 mature marijuana plants, were discovered at both locations.

Anyone with information related to this investigation is asked to contact Topanga Area Narcotics Enforcement Detail Detectives, Detective Carlos Figueira at 818-756-4850. During non-business hours or on weekends, calls should be directed to 1-877-LAPD-24-7 (877-527-3247). Anyone wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (800-222-8477). Tipsters may also contact Crime Stoppers by texting to phone number 274637 (C-R-I-M-E-S on most keypads) with a cell phone. All text messages should begin with the letters “LAPD.” Tipsters may also go to LAPDOnline.org, click on "webtips" and follow the prompts.